Today, Conservative Member of Parliament, Pierre Poilievre demanded that Stéphane Dion’s candidate in Central Nova, Elizabeth May to apologize for characterizing NATO and Canadian forces as “Christian Crusaders” (Green Party, Press Release, January 22, 2008) and called on Stéphane Dion to terminate his electoral cooperation agreement with a leader so out of the mainstream to smear the reputation of our soldiers, diplomats and aid workers.

“These comments by Stéphane Dion’s candidate in Central Nova not only demonstrate a lack of knowledge about foreign affairs but are grossly insulting to Canadian forces,” said Poilievre. “Our Canadian forces along with our NATO allies are working together with the support of the democratically elected Afghan government to bring peace and human rights to the people of Afghanistan and these comments continue to demonstrate that Liberal/Green collation is not worth the risk.”

“Ms. May is trying to imply that our troops, diplomats and aid workers are forcibly occupying Afghanistan when in fact they are there at the invitation of the Afghan Government,” said Poilievre.

This is not the first time that Stéphane Dion’s candidate has made radical remarks. The London Free Press reported that Green Party Leader Elizabeth May returned to London to preach her views on climate change where she accused Prime Minister Stephen Harper of taking a stance that "represents a grievance worse than Neville Chamberlain's appeasement of the Nazis." (London Free Press, April 30, 2007)

“It is time for Stéphane Dion to make a decision, will he continue to have Ms. May and her radical views as his candidate in riding of Central Nova,” said Poilievre. “This is just evidence of the extremism that exists within the Liberal – Green Party coalition between Stéphane Dion and Elizabeth May.”